Jest available copy



Patented July 8, 1919.

F. C. WEBER.

PUMPING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED Aus. I, I9I8.

'I'rm mILwIIIIA ILANor-RAPII co., wAsmNuroN. II. c.

q m u I 7 n FREDERICK C. WEBER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

PUMPING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 191 9.

Application led August l, 1918. Serial No. 247,806.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. WEBER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pumping Systems, of which the following is a specification.

In my pr1or Patent No. 990,085, dated April 18, 1911, I have illustrated and described a pumping system wherein I have utilized compressed air and vacuum as a means for elevating water or other liquid from great depths. This system is particularl adapted for use in mines and deep oil or rtesian wells. In my later Patent No. 998,059, dated July 18, 1911, I have shown the basic principle adapted for use in what I have called a suburban type or isolated pumping plant. This latter type is also adapted for deep well pumping, but is of a type requiring more or less attention. In a still later Patent No. 1,136,070, dated April 20, 1915, I have introduced many improvements designed to render the system entirely automatic and self-replenishing whenever any draft is made upon the system, so long as the pressure is maintained in the air receiver. I have found from experience that many of the elements of the latter form of pump may be dispensed with, and by a simple rearrangement of the remaining elements, with certain slight changes made in some of them, I may accomplish substantially all of the results obtained by the pumping system described in said patent.

y present invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a sectional diagrammatic view of my improved pumpin system.

Fig. 2 1s a sectional View of the compensating valve.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the capacity disk.

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification and draw- The well casing 1 is a tube extending down into the well any desired distance, usually to some impervious stratum of rock or hardpan. Supported upon the top of the casing 1, is a cap 2, which is designed to carry the well tubing and parts which are suspended Within the well. Upon the cap 2 rests a cap thimble or supporting casting 3, into the lower side of which the well tube 4 is screwed, the latter being made up of a sufficient number 01:' sections connected by `a suitable cover 22; the

unions 5, to reach to a point near the bottom of the well, or at least to a point considerably below the pumping water level, indicated by P. W. L. upon the drawing. At the extreme lower end of the tube 4, I secure the usual intake valve 6. Between the adjacent ends of the tube sections next above the valve 6, and servin as a union to connect such sections toget er is the discharge valve casting 7, which is provided with the cage 8 at one side of its center to contain the ball valve 9, the latter resting upon the seat 10. The casting 7 has the lateral passage 11 which expands above the cage 8 into circular cross-section and carries at its upper end, the tube 12. At the upper end of the tube 12 is the diaphragm coupling casting 13, which serves as a support for the extension tube 14, the latter extending upwardly to a point near the top of the well.

From the thimble 3, the smaller tube 15 is suspended and extends within the extension .tubellll to a point slightly above the casting Secured to the upper end of the thimble 3 is the T 16, in the upper end of which is the packing gland 17, through which latter the air pipe 18 runs leading from the air receiver 19 to and is tapped into the diaphragm casting 13. From the lateral spurl of the T 16, the service pipe line 20 extends to the house plumbing system. Comparatively high air pressure is maintained in the receiver 19 by any suitable or desired air compressor (not shown).

From the system of tubes and connections thus far described, it will be noted that two chambers are formed, which may be designated as the receiving or working chamber A, formed by the valve 6, lower end of the tube 4, casting 7 tube 12 and casting 13; and the discharge chamber B, formed by the casting 7, tube 4, thimble 3, tube 12 and casting 13. These two chambers are separated by the ball valve 9, which permits the free flow of water from chamber A to chamber B, but prevents a reverse flow.

The upper part of the well is enlarged to form a so-called frost pit 21, provided with service pipe 20 is led through the wall of the frost pit below the frost line to connect with the house plumbing system. Within this frost pit, the otherwise exposed parts of the system are located, and are fully protected from frost or other accident.

lOO

As a means for compensating' 'lor difieren tial pressure in the two chambers A and B, as well as for voidingr chamber B of exces sive accumulation ol` air as hereafter explained. l provide a compensatingg valve 21', connected up in the pipe 2" leadingll'roni the chamber li and also having a small pipe connection with the service pipe line 20, through the T 1V. The details ot the compensating valve are substantially the same as the regulating Yvalve of my prior Patent No. 1,136,070, and are as tollowsr" The valve consists essentially of the lower casting 30, the intermediate casting 3], and the upper casting' 32. The lower casting 3() is provided with the two chambers 33 and 34h separated b v the diaphragm 35, havingq therein the Inissage Btl. rl`be upper side ol the diaphragm 35 is formed inlo a valve `seat 3T. Upon tbe upper side, ot' the east ing' 3U is secured b v means of the flange bolts IER. the eastingg 151. said casting beilm1 provided with the valve chamber 351 opening into the chamber fl, and separated therefrom h v means` ot' the ganxe screen 4U. fithin the chamber lill is lolaied the hollow valve plug 11.y the lower end of which is provided with the leather packing 42 to bear upon the Seat 37. The upper end of the valve plug 41 is recessed as at 43, to receive the compression springr @14Ka the upper end of which bears upon the under side of the puppet valve 45. The puppet valve stem 4G extends upwardly through the casting 3l, and projects into an upper chamber '17 in said casting, and through a packing gland 4S. the latter being:r interposed to make the stem airtight. .lust above thc valve 45 the valve seat 49 at the lower end of the lsmall chamber 50, An exhaust port 51 leads from the chamber 5U to the open atmosphere.

The upper part of the castingi is hollowed out as at 52 to form a shallow chamber, from which the passage 53 leads and is in communication with the service pipe line 20 through the pipe 28 and T 1G. The chamber 52 is formed by means of the flexible diaphragm 54, made of sheet rubber, specially treated leather or other Isuitable material impervious to water. The diaphragm 54 is held in position by the fiange 55 of the upper casting 32 through the medium of the bolts 56. Secured to the central portion of the diaphragm 54 is a downwardly extending boss 57 which enters the chamber 47. Upon the upper side of the diaphragm 54 is secured the Hat spring'seat 58 with its upwardly projecting,r boss 59, for supporting the lower end of the com-pression spring G0. The sprin cap-61is located upon the upper end o? the spring G0, and the cap is providedwith marginal slots taking over the internal uide ribs 62 so as to prevent rotation "of saidv cap. YThe compression of the spring is effected by means of the screw (33 which is screwed into the central aperture ol said cap and provided with a eollar (i4 which bears upon the under side of the dome-like iop ot the casting 32. The upper end ot' the screw ('J projects outside ot the domey and is squared as as 65. so that it may he turned when it is desired to adjust the compression o'l` the spring 60.

The plug valve 41 is made to move easilyY within the chamber 39, with a very slight clearance, so that air pressure coming through the pipe 27 may gradually find its wav trom said chamber 33 to chamber B9 .so as to equalize both above and below the valve plugr 41; or it preferred`r the valve plugl may be made to fit the chamber 39 quite closely.y and the leakage from chamber l to chamber 39 provided for by the small liv-pass` 66 in the. plug 41.

The discharge chamber 34 has` a pipe (37 leading' l'rom it, in which the globe valve, 6H is placed. At starting` it is desirable that pressure in chamber l should build up quickly b y the rising liquid therein against the confined air in the upper part of the chamber; this is accomplished by closing the valve 68 for a short time. At other times it may be found that the voiding of chamber B of surplus accumulations off air takes place too quickly7 for efficient operation, or that too much escapes at one time; the discharge may then be ent down b v means of the valve (38.

In order that thc supply of air pressure from the receiver 19 to chamber A may not be too rapid, the capacit;T disk 18 is placed in the pipe. 18. This disk is of sheet metal of a diameter the same as the abuttinf.r flanges of the sections of the pipe 18, between which it is inserted and held. The disk has a central aperture 18 through it, which is materially smaller than the bore of thepipe 18. The diameter of said aperture is determined by the length and capacity of chamber A and in a meas-ure, by the depth of its submergenee below the P. W', L. By its uso a retarded flow of pressure from the receiver to chamber A takes place when a considerable portion of the air in the chamber escapes to chamber B, as hereafter' explained.

The operation of the system is as follows Pressure in the receiver 19 is maintained at a point sufficiently high to overcome the hydrostatic pressure of the Well column; that is to say, receiver pressure should be equal to or slightly in excess of the Water pressure at the intake valve 6, to insure the depression of the Water level within charnber A to or below valve 9. Automatic air compressors for this and kindred purposes are in common use and need no description herein. With the lower end of the Well tube, its intake valve 6 and chamber A submerged t0 a considerable depth below the I. W. L., Water will rise at the start in the chambers A and B to the P. W. L. The valve 68 is now closed and pressure from the receiver 19 is turned on. As soon as the compressed air is applied to chamber A, the water therein will be displaced by the air and forced past the valve 9 into chamber B. A portion of the air will ascend with the water discharged into chamber B at an increased velocity inasmuch as the air is about 700 or 800 times lighter than the water and is therefore more buoyant. The escape of air from chamber A will result in an appreciable drop of pressure therein, owing to the fact that the restricted passage through the capacity disk 18 prevents a too rapid replenishing of pressure from the receiver, and as soon as such pressure falls below the h vdrostatic pressure of the outside or well column, water will again enter chamber A through the intake valve 6 until the air pressure therein equals or exceeds the outside or h v drostatic pressure, when of course the intake valve 6 will again close. The discharge of water from chamber A to chamber B past valve 9 will take place'. as rapidly as it is drawn from the service pipe line 20 through the house plumbing system. These periodic discharges take place as often as the water in chamber A is depressed to the level of the discharge valve 9, and in case of a continuous draft from-the house plumbing system, they give the appearance of a continuous stream. Their intermissions are barely perceptible to the naked eye.

As the air accumulates in the upper part of chamber B, some means, must be provided for disposing of the excess or surplus. This means is found in the compensating valve 26. Drafts of water from, the service pipe line 20 Will lower the pressure therein and throughout the system b-ack as far as valve 9. This lowering of pressure extends into chamber 52 through pipe 28, thereby permitting the spring 60 to react upon the diaphragm 54, which results in'unseating the puppet valve 45 and exhausting chamber 39. The differential pressure beneath the plug valve 41 will now become effective to unseat said valve and vent the pipe 27 to the atmosphere to a point where equilibrium is again restored in chamber B by accumulating pressure due to the rapid inux of water from chamber A; this will extend through pipe 28 and restore dia hragm 54, therebyT per mitting puppet va ve 45 to again seat, and thus close chamber 39. Pressure will now accumula-te in chamber 39 and in c0njunction with the spring 44, close the plug valve 41, thereby preventing the escape of more air from chamber B than is necessary to properly restore equilibrium.

The extension 0f the tube 14 so far above the lower end of the tube 15, eliectually prevents any of the rising bubbles of air from escaping into the service pipe line 20.

The Whole operation as above described is very quickly performed, and the system is entirely automatic; it requires no attention beyond an occasional inspection to see that all joints are air and watertight, and the parts are otherwise operating satisfactorily.

In practice, the chambers A and B are called the Working chamber and the discharge chamber respectively; in the ap pended claims I have used these terms as more conveniently referring to the two chambers as well as for the reason that they are correctly descriptive of their functions.

l. In a pumping system, the combination of a working liquid chamber, a retarded fluid pressure supply therefor, a combined air and liquid discharge chamber having a valved connection with said working chamber, a normally closed discharge pipe leading from said discharge chamber below the normal liquid level therein, and a differential pressure actuated compensating valve connected to said discharge chamber and to said pipe, whereby liquid is alternately drawn into said Working chamber and discharged therefrom together with a portieri of the pressure medium therein into said discharge chamber, and excess accumulations of air therein are exhausted therefrom as and when liquid is drawn from said discharge pipe.

2. In a pumping system, the combina-tion of a source of fluid pressure supply with a working liquid chamber normally submerged l0 5 in liquid to be pumped, a pipe leading from said supply to said chamber said pipe having a restricted passage for retarding the flow of pressure medium therethrough, a discharge chamber having a valved connection with said Working chamber, a normally closed discharge pipe leading from a point below the liquid level in said discharge chamber and a differential pressure actuated compensating Valve having pipe connections with the air space in liquid chamber and with said discharge pipe respectively, whereby liquid is alternately drawn into said working chamber and discharged therefrom together with a portion of the Huid pressure medium into said discharge chainber, and excess accumulations of said fluid pressure medium are exhausted from said discharge chamber as and when fluid is drawn rom said discharge pipe.

3. In a pumping system, the combination of a source of fluid pressure supply with a working chamber provided with an intake and a discharge valve normally submer ed in liquid to be pumped, a pipe connection 130 a point below the normal liquid level therein, means for forcing liquid under air pressure into said chamber through said Valvcd inlet, and means actuated by the momentary drop of pressure in said pipe due to drawing liquid therefrom for voiding said'chamber of excess accumulations of air.

13. In a pumping system, the combination of a tubular chamber closed at the top and extending into a body of liquid to be pumped, a normally closed discharge pipe leading from a point in said chamber below the normal liquid level therein, means for introducing air under pressure into the bottom of said chamber to produce an air lift therein, and means actuated by the momentary drop of pressure in said discharge pipe due to drawing liquid therefrom for voiding the upper nart of said chamber of eX- cess accumulations of air.

F. C. WEBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

